“Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” Heb 10:19b, 22a (NIV) What does it mean to enter the “Most Holy Place”? In the Old Testament the Most Holy Place, also known as the holy of holies, was the only place in the world that one could be assured to encounter the glory of God. Only the high priest could enter once a year. Now any believer can actually enter the Most Holy Place! But what does this mean if we don’t actually see God’s glory with our eyes? Remember II Cor. 3 where Paul explains that we get to enter the Most Holy Place like Moses but we don’t need to wear a veil. Instead, our faces are unveiled and we are “beholding the glory of the Lord.” (II Cor. 3:18). So we understand that our spirit does behold the glory of the Lord. This is what our passage teaches us – that we get to be together now with God and behold His glory. Our spirit becomes one spirit with Him (I Cor. 6:17). Whether we sense it or not, we dwell in the Most Holy Place and can draw nearer and nearer to Him through faith.
I was stuck on I Cor.8:17 this morning – looked it up in a half dozen versions exploring its meaning. Then I decided to clean off my bed and picked up this weekly word and reread it. Strange how the Lord works, in more ways than I could possibly imagine or think. Your weekly word brought the meaning of I Cor. 8.17 alive for me. Thank you, Phil!